Giving birth at a health-care facility in rural China: is it affordable for the poor?

Table 2. Percentage change (PC) and absolute change in percentage (ACP) between 2002 and 2007 in total and out-of-pocket expenditurea on delivery at a health-care facility in rural China, by household income groupb

Parameter

2002 household income group (n = 900)

2007 household income group (n = 1 333)

Low (n = 308)

Medium (n = 295)

High (n = 297)

Low (n = 445)

Medium (n = 470)

High (n = 418)

US$

US$

US$

US$

PC

ACP

US$

PC

ACP

US$

PC

ACP

Mean annual household income

594

1167

2508

1186

+100

NA

2359

+102

NA

4812

+92

NA

All facility-based deliveries

Mean total expenditure per delivery

108

126

158

199

+84

NA

255

+102

NA

317

+100

NA

Mean out-of-pocket expenditure per delivery

108

126

158

155

+43

NA

212

+69

NA

271

+71

NA

Out-of-pocket expenditure as a percentage of annual household income

18.2c

10.8c

6.3c

13.1c

NA

−5.1

9.0c

NA

−1.8

5.6c

NA

−0.7

Vaginal delivery

Mean total expenditure per delivery

41

63

83

116

+184

NA

146

+132

NA

183

+120

NA

Mean out-of-pocket expenditure per delivery

41

63

83

88

+115

NA

120

+91

NA

157

+89

NA

Out-of-pocket expenditure as a percentage of annual household income

6.9c

5.4 c

3.3 c

7.4c

NA

+0.5

5.1c

NA

−0.3

3.3c

NA

0

Caesarean delivery

Mean total expenditure per delivery

303

311

344

460

+52

NA

496

+60

NA

562

+63

NA

Mean out-of-pocket expenditure per delivery

303

311

344

377

+24

NA

423

+36

NA

480

+40

NA

Out-of-pocket expenditure as a percentage of annual household income

51.0c

26.6c

13.7c

31.8c

NA

−19.2

17.9c

NA

−8.7

10.0c

NA

−3.7

NA, not applicable; US$, United States dollar.

a Expenditure was adjusted for inflation.

b Households were divided into three groups of equal size according to income: low, medium and high.